clients the opportunity to use their bank cards as metro tickets – every time a person uses the metro system, travel fare is automatically deducted from their account. Moscow Metro is a closed-gate system –

turnstiles are installed at all stations, so that the whole network is fully controlled. The automated fare collection system provides Moscow Metro administration with the data on the number of passengers using the system.

Mosco Metro is a closed-gate system – turnstiles are installed at all stations so that the whole network is fully controlled

corridors. Communication with passengers is another function of the Control Centre. All the stations have red and blue help panels that passengers can use in emergencies or when they need information. Fire safety is also an important issue. For this

reason, metro stations are equipped with a VESDA fire detection system and the whole fleet is fitted out with IGLA – the automated fire detection and fire extinguishing system.

Improving the passenger experience Moscow Metro understands the importance of giving customers a better travel experience. To improve passenger information systems, city maps with rapid transit systems marked on them are placed outside metro stations and passenger information can be found in station vestibules. The administration of Moscow Metro is also considering publishing live travel news on its website as well as sending text messages to inform subscribers of how the network is working. A signalling system has been installed at

stations to inform visually impaired people of the arrival of trains, plus lighting is being upgraded to improve their travel experience. New stations are being equipped with elevators, LED platform-edge lights and tactile ground strips, too. In 2011, Moscow Metro opened its first car-

park areas which are located close to big highways outside the city centre. Thus, commuters can leave their cars in the parking

innovative fare payment technologies and offers passengers new ticketing solutions such as mobile phone and bank card payment systems. Gaining access to the metro will soon be

possible just by swiping a mobile phone: to get this service, a passenger will need to get their SIM-card changed and special NFC software installed onto the mobile phone. At present, the system is being tested within the Moscow Metro system in cooperation with a telephone operator. Another ambitious project of Moscow

Metro is further development of bank card payment systems. Over 20 banks offer their

Owing to continuous improvements,

Moscow Metro remains not only the most beautiful, but also one of the safest and most reliable transport systems in the world.

BIOGRAPHY

Ivan Besedinhas been Head of Moscow Metro since February 2011. In 1976, Ivan graduated from the Moscow Institute of Railway Engineers (MIIT) as an engineer- electrician. Later on, he qualified for a degree of a bachelor of technical sciences. After graduation, Ivan worked

at MIIT as a Junior Research Assistant, a Senior Engineer and a Senior Researcher. In 1985, Ivan began working for the Russian Railways Ministry. He started as a Chief Expert, and then moved up the career ladder to the positions of Department Chief, First Deputy Chief of the main economic department and Chief of the Department for Economics and Development. In 1993, he was appointed as Deputy Railways Minister and in 1995 as the First Deputy Minister of the Russian Railways Ministry. In 2000-2001, Ivan worked as Deputy Chairman of Organisation for Cooperation of Railways in Warsaw. In April 2002, he was Deputy Chairman of the Federal Energy Commission of the Russian Federation, and in September 2003 began working as a Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Railway Transport. Three years later, in September 2006, he was appointed the Chief of the Kaliningrad Railways. Ivan has been awarded the Order of Friendship (1993) and the Medal for the Development of Railways (2008).